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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is excited by the prospect of having a midfield pair of Declan Rice and Thomas Partey.
Partey, who has been out for the majority of the season, is set to appear in the match day squad as Arsenal prepare to face Sheffield United in a must-win game for the Gunners.
The Ghanaian midfielder has featured in just four Premier League matches this season, which has starved the fans of seeing the full potential of what his partnership with Rice could have offered after the Englishman completed a £105 million move to Arsenal in the summer.
Arteta, like every fan of the club, is also looking forward to the result of this midfield partnership and has spoken about how the former Atletico Madrid man could help Rice attain new levels.
Arteta on potential of Partey - Rice partnership in midfield
During the pre-match presser ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League game against Sheffield United, Arteta was asked if Partey could help Declan Rice reach new levels, and he said: “For sure.
“I will have to see that chemistry on the pitch, and those qualities, and the things we have to treat around to make sure they play to their strengths and make each other better. But I think that will be a very powerful midfield, he added.
“I think they only played in the Community Shield together in midfield. That tells you how much we have missed Thomas.
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Arteta on Partey’s potential impact to Arsenal’s season
Arsenal are currently in the title race, and a win over Sheffield United will take the Gunners to within two points of league leaders Liverpool and one point behind second-placed Manchester City.
The Gunners are also in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, where they lost 1-0 to Porto in the first leg, and will be hosting the return leg on March 12.
Arteta spoke about the importance of having a player like Partey back for the rest of the season.
“To play the whole season - and a player like him who has not played much with us - the impact he can have for the next three months can be really big," he said.
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